Reno mayoral candidates spar– sort of– at first forum

Fifteen Reno mayoral candidates crowded onto a stage at Temple Sinai last night for their first debate. And I do mean crowded– a panorama shot was required to capture the entire scene.

Fifteen of the 18 Reno mayoral candidates debated Monday night.

With two hours to debate, the candidates fielded six questions, taking two minutes to answer the first four and five seconds to answer the last two. It's fair to say the event dragged a bit, although the audience stayed pretty well engaged. At least one candidate seemed to have difficulty staying awake, and several seemed to be bored while waiting their turn to speak.

But we all got through it– a nice dry run for tonight's RGJ-KNPB debate.

Here's a brief recap.

There didn't seem to be a whole lot of daylight between many of the candidates on the biggest issues. On fire service, most favored the concept of some sort of consolidation or automatic aid. Commissioner Martha Berkbigler drew the distinction between "regionalization" and "consolidation," seeming to favor the creation of a new fire district with its own funding mechanism rather than merging existing departments.

Few actually had anything substantive to say on how to save the 35 firefighters who will be laid off on July 1. Robert Avery wasn't more specific than it would be possible "through proper leadership to retain those 35 firefighters." Councilwoman Hillary Schieve said she would insist that general fund dollars be spent on "core services" rather than giving "billionaires" hand outs. Without naming the Aces Ballpark owners, she also said "they" should pay their taxes.

None of the candidates voiced strong opposition to Reno licensing medical marijuanadispensaries, but they largely sidestepped the issue of the discretion the city will have in choosing among qualified licensees determined by the state. That discretion leaves open the possibility of political sway being used to obtain a license. Michael Bertrand said the licenses should be doled out using a lottery.

Many of the candidates seemed uncomfortable with the idea. Idora Silver said it made her "feel icky" and didn't relish Reno becoming the "bong capital" of the world. She added, however, that medical marijuana may have saved her mother some suffering in her final hours. Avery dismissed the issue as an "unfeasible" business idea and not important to the city. Sean Burke strongly supported both medical and recreational marijuana.

On the city's outstanding $577 million debt obligation, most candidates favored promoting economic development to enlarge the tax base to provide more revenue for paying it down. Few had specific plans.

Tom Fitzgerald said he would implement a plan to pay off the most expensive debt first and then apply the savings to other debt, while "adding no more debt." Chuck Reno advocated selling the city-owned vacant land and using the proceeds to pay down the debt.

On the margins tax aka Education First Initiative,the only candidate to voice steadfast support was Erik Holland, a high school art teacher.

"I am going to vote for it," Holland said, arguing that the tax applies only to businesses grossing more than $1 million and that sizable deductions are allowed. "I have sympathy for the people piled up on top of each other in Vegas classrooms."

Most other candidates– Avery, Berkbigler, Ray Pezonella, Reno– described the initiative as a jobs killer. DeLores Aiazzi, said the state needs to find a way to better fund education, but the margins tax is the wrong way to do it.

Both Schieve and Silver danced around the subject, failing to voice a strong yes or no.

"As a business owner, the margins tax scares me," Schieve said. "However, what scares me more is not funding our education system."

Schieve didn't directly come out in favor of the margins tax, however, saying she did favor a broad-based tax.

Silver said the tax needs a broad community discussion and that she has "serious misgivings with the way it is written."

Nearly every candidate favored finding funding for an indoor swimming pool, either through federal grants or public-private partnerships. All voiced support for a vibrant parks and recreation system. Bertrand said a swimming pool should be considered a luxury and Ian Pasalich said the city isn't in a financial position to build a pool.

The Southeast Connector was not popular with the candidates. Aiazzi said she would favor finding a different way to connect the bridge under construction at Sparks Boulevard to McCarran Boulevard. Avery objected to not having enough time to answer the question properly.

Berkbigler, Burke, Holland, Eddie Lorton and Schieve said they oppose the project and would stop if it they could. Bertrand, Fitzgerald, Pasalich, Pezonella, Larry Pizorno and Stark voiced support and said the wouldn't stop it now that so much money has been spent on the project.

Reno reiterated his strong support for the project, reminding the audience that he made the motions to approve it from his seat on the Reno Planning Commission. Silver said the project needs more community discussion, noting she once opposed the McCarran Loop and now sees the benefit of it.